AMERKS HOST AHL-LEADING TEXAS STARS ON WEDNESDAY

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Rochester Americans play their third game in four nights tonight as they host a rare visit from the league-leading Texas Stars at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be the first of just two get-togethers between the interconference rivals this season and will be broadcast live on Sports 1280 WHTK. The game will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

Last Game: Rochester at Hamilton – 2/18/13Rochester (2) at Hamilton (0)Goals: McNabb (GWG), AdamGoalie(s): Leggio (30 saves/30 shots, 60:00)Special Teams: PP: 1/1 --- PK: 1/1Shots: Rochester 49 --- Hamilton 30PIM: Rochester 2 --- Hamilton 23 Stars: 1. Leggio (RCH), 2. Tokarski (HAM), 3. Adam (RCH)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: The game marks just the third all-time meeting between the Amerks and Stars since splitting the 2011-12 campaign that saw the teams, who each won on home ice, combine for 21 goals over the two-game season series. After a 6-2 win by the Stars on Dec. 17, the Amerks spoiled Texas’ first-ever trip up to Rochester with a 9-4 rout on Feb. 10, marking the highest goal-output in a single game and the largest margin of victory for the Amerks last season. Texas and Rochester enter play tonight ranked second and third in the AHL in power-play efficiency, respectively, while the Stars also own the second-best power-play unit on the road with a 22.1% success rate. After tonight’s game, the teams are idle until late March when Rochester heads south for its annual three-game trek across the Lone Star State.

AMERKS NOTES: Rochester (27-18-2-1, 57 points) enters the contest fresh off its 2-0 blanking of the Hamilton Bulldogs Monday afternoon at Copps Coliseum. David Leggio continued to showcase his dominance over the Bulldogs as he turned aside all 30 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the season and help the Amerks snap a brief two-game skid. Brayden McNabb and Luke Adam provided the scoring in the win, which moved Rochester within two points of first place in the American Hockey League’s North Division standings. With an assist in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Hershey, Amerks captain Kevin Porter once again took over the team lead in scoring with 44 points (15+29) and is one of just two skaters to appear in all 48 games this season. With 13 points (4+9) in his last 10 games, including four different multi-point outings, Porter enters play tonight tied for eighth in scoring among the AHL’s top point-getters, while his team-best 29 assists are also sixth-most among league leaders. Leggio, who has now won eight of his last nine starts, shows an 8-1-0 record with a 1.67 goals-against average and .947 save percentage over that span. The fifth-year goaltender, who is also just two wins shy of matching the career-high 28 victories he set in 54 games last season with Rochester, currently leads all AHL netminders in wins (26), saves (1225), minutes played (2419:54) and gamed played (40).

TEXAS NOTES: Texas (30-13-4-4, 68 points), opening up a four-game road swing tonight, comes into the matchup as the top team in the AHL having won two straight and three of its last four, including a two-game sweep of the Oklahoma City Barons. The Stars defeated the Barons 4-0 in their most recent action thanks in part to a 20-save shutout from rookie goaltender Jack Campbell, who played three seasons under current Amerks head coach Ron Rolston with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. With points in nine of its last 10 games, Texas is tied for first in the league with 30 wins and brings the AHL’s third-best road record of 16-7-2-1 to Rochester. The Stars also lead all Western Conference teams with a .667 winning percentage and boast an offense that has outscored its opposition 50-31 in the third period and shows a 21-0-0-1 record when leading after two periods. Despite presently being on recall with Dallas, third-year pro Matt Fraser paces the Stars with a team-high 35 points (24+11) while appearing in all 51 games for Texas this season. The Red Deer, Alberta, native also ranks tied for fourth in the AHL with 24 goals, including a league-best 13 power-play tallies.

UP NEXT: The Amerks square off with the Hamilton Bulldogs for the second time this week as the action shifts north of the border to the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal. The 7:30 p.m. matchup will be the ninth of 12 meetings between the North Division rivals this season and will be carried live on Sports 1280 WHTK.
TONIGHT'S PROMOTIONS

Business Persons Special – For any Sunday through Thursday game, fans who present their business cards at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office can purchase a $17 ticket for best-available lower level seating.

Eats & Seats – The Distillery “Eats & Seats” promotion returns for another season, where for just $20, fans can purchase one ticket (best-available) and a $10 gift card to The Distillery.

Moe's Hot Players - Tonight's Moe's Hot Players are Luke Adam, Brayden McNabb and Matt Ellis. If any of these Amerks players score a goal tonight, your roster card is worth 50% off your order the following day at any participating Moe’s restaurants. If one of those players scores a hat trick, bring your roster card to any participating Moe’s restaurant the next day and receive a free burrito. Eat at Moe’s!